LONDON: Britain’s Adam Peaty set a new men’s 100 metres breaststroke world record with a time of 57.92 seconds at the London Aquatic Centre on Friday.

The 20-year-old’s winning time at the British Champio­nships beat the previous record of 58.46sec set by South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh at the same venue during the 2012 Olympic Games.

“I kind of surprised myself,” Peaty, who already held the 50m world record time and won European and Commonwealth titles during 2014, told BBC Radio Five Live.

“I was going to wait until Kazan (World Champio­nships) to produce that time and I can’t really believe it.

“I just dived in hoping for a 58 really and I have to say a big thank you to my family for supporting me,” added Peaty from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, central England.

“I can’t believe it, coming in earlier I thought I could get a really good time, maybe a 58.5,” Peaty said.

“Before that race I just thought I’ve done all the training for a 57, and it all paid off in the end.

“The crowd were great and they really carried me home at the end, because that was a hell of a pain train.

“There must be something in that lane four when it really matters,” he added.

Scotland’s Ross Murdoch finished second in 59.13sec, with James Wilby third in 1min 0.31sec.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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